By Raashid Hassan on February 19, 2018Comments Off on Conceptualised 58 years ago, Safnagri water supply scheme remains non-starter

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SHOPIAN: The Safnagri water supply scheme was conceptualized 58 years ago in 1960 but it has failed to ensure water supply to more than four Kareva villages in the area.
Ghulam Muhammad Wani (70) told Kashmir Reader that decades of work on the project could not succeed in providing the water supply for the Safnagri village. “They (engineers) are working on the project for the third time after two failed attempts earlier. The scheme would fetch water from a canal, which is not worth consumption,” he said.
Another villager Bilal Ahmad said that the scarcity of drinking water was not new to the area but they have been perpetually neglected by the government. “We are forced to fetch water from long distances. Nobody listening to our problems despite they know the hardships faced by the area,” he said.
Villagers said that the project was thrice left without completion for one reason or the other. The inhabitants from Kareva-Wachi complain about the same problems of water crisis since years and demand speedy completion of project so that the residents’ sufferings were mitigated.
They said that they knocked the doors of several higher officials but their problem was not taken seriously.
According to the official of public health engineering department the initial estimate cost of the project was Rs 2.5 crore. “The estimate cost for work of the project was Rs 2.5 crore but due to the cost escalation like tender appreciation and cost of materials the work was not completed in due time, now we have made revised estimate for balance work amount that is Rs 60 lakh. I have discussed this issue with chief engineer and divisional commissioner Kashmir who have assured the release of funds, “Executive Engineer Public health engineering Shopian, Nisar Ahmad said.
He added that the project would be completed by the end of March this year, provided the government released the funds in time.
When asked that the nullah contains contaminated water, Nisar said the water for the scheme would be lifted from Tongri-rivulet. ” We will filter that before supplying it to the localities,” he said.
Lawmaker of Wachi, Advocate Aijaz Ahmad Mir said he will talk to the higher officials regarding the speedy release of funds.

Raashid Hassan, an alumnus of Islamic University of Science and Technology, is working as Correspondent at Kashmir Reader. He covers southern Kashmir region for Kashmir Reader and besides writes on Conflict, Politics, Crime, and Human Rights. Hassan also works as a freelancer with various national media platforms.

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